FieldLink crashes immediately when attempting to create a new project.
Observed behavior:
Application closes or crashes during project creation
Issue persists after:
Uninstalling and reinstalling FieldLink
The issue is caused by Windows security restrictions blocking one or more FieldLink components from running.
This commonly occurs when files are transferred from a USB drive or other external media, which can cause Windows to silently flag and block DLLs required by FieldLink.
This can happen even if:
The customer is unaware of any antivirus or security software
The device is not domain managed by IT
Windows may still apply:
File blocking from external media (USB)
SmartScreen or attachment security flags
Permission restrictions requiring elevated privileges
Restart the device to clear any temporary security or policy enforcement.
Right‑click the FieldLink shortcut
Select Run as administrator
If FieldLink opens and allows project creation, the issue is permission related.
Navigate to:
C:\Program Files\Trimble\FieldLink
Locate the file:
Trimble.FieldLink.Job.dll
Right‑click the file and select Properties
On the General tab, look for a Security section at the bottom
If an Unblock checkbox is present:
Check Unblock
Click OK
Note: The Unblock option only appears if Windows has marked the file as coming from an external source.
Restart the computer
Launch FieldLink (preferably as Administrator)
Create a new project
FieldLink no longer crashes
New projects can be created successfully
File transfers from USB devices can cause Windows to mark application components as blocked
This can occur without antivirus alerts or IT security policies
Running FieldLink as Administrator can bypass blocked permissions